The Different Drummer Cafe, 12 Paddock Arcade, will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. today to announce the arrival of peace marchers, who are on a 10-day hike from areas such as Ithaca, Utica and Rochester.

About 40 marchers were expected to arrive in the area Thursday night and this morning. They will hold a daylong festival at a campground on Huntington Street in Watertown on Armed Forces Day, Saturday.

Among the marchers are peace activists and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. They merged from the respective locations near Central Square on Wednesday.

A Web site set up by the New York State Marchers for Peace says that the walk is being held to protest both the war and what they perceive as ill treatment of soldiers who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Fort Drum Spring Festival is free and open to the public. It will include live music, games and information booths.